1976 South Carolina Code of Laws
Unannotated
Updated through the end of the 2001 Session

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Title 40 - Professions and Occupations

CHAPTER 35.

LONG TERM HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATORS

SECTION 40-35-5. Applicability; conflicts of law.

Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, Article 1, Chapter 1 applies to the regulation of nursing home administrators and residential care facility administrators; however, if there is a conflict between this chapter and Article 1, Chapter 1, the provisions of this chapter control.

SECTION 40-35-10. South Carolina Board of Long Term Health Care Administrators; membership; meetings.

(A) There is created the South Carolina Board of Long Term Health Care Administrators composed of nine members who must be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for three-year terms and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Of the nine members:

(1) three must be qualified nursing home administrators licensed under this chapter, one must be from a proprietary nursing home, one of whom must be from a nonproprietary nursing home, and one must be a qualified hospital administrator;

(2) three must be community residential care facility administrators, licensed under this chapter, at least one of whom must be from a community residential care facility with ten or fewer residents;

(3) one must be a consumer, sponsor, or family member of a consumer of nursing home services;

(4) one must be a consumer, sponsor, or family member of a consumer of community residential care services;

(5) one must be a voting member of the Long Term Care Committee of the Health and Human Services Coordinating Council who must be nominated by election of the committee from among its voting members. If the Governor does not accept the nomination, an additional nominee must be selected in the same manner.

The Commissioner of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, or his designee, also shall serve as a nonvoting member on the board ex officio.

An individual, group, or association may submit the names of qualified individuals to the Governor for his consideration in making these appointments.

A vacancy must be filled in the manner of the original appointment for the unexpired portion of the term. A member may not serve more than two consecutive full terms.

(B) The board shall meet at least twice a year.

(C) Any business conducted by the board must be by a positive majority vote. For purposes of this subsection "positive majority vote" means a majority vote of the entire membership of the board, reduced by any vacancies existing at the time.

SECTION 40-35-20. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(1) "Accredited college or university" means a college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the Council on Post-secondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.

(2) "Board" means the South Carolina Board of Long Term Health Care Administrators.

(3) "Community residential care facility" means a facility defined for licensing purposes under law or pursuant to regulations for community residential care facilities by the Department of Health and Environmental Control, whether proprietary or nonprofit.

(4) "Community residential care facility administrator" means a person who has attained the required education and experience, is otherwise qualified, has been issued a license by the board, and is eligible to administer, manage, supervise, or be in administrative charge of a community residential care facility.

(5) "Consumer" means a person who is or has been a resident of a nursing home or community residential care facility.

(6) "Habilitation center" for the mentally retarded or persons with related conditions means a facility which is licensed by the Department of Health and Environmental Control and that serves four or more mentally retarded persons or persons with related conditions and provides health or rehabilitative services on a regular basis to individuals whose mental and physical conditions require services including room, board, and active treatment for their mental retardation or related conditions.

(7) "Nursing home" means an institution or facility defined for licensing purposes under law or pursuant to regulations for nursing homes promulgated by the Department of Health and Environmental Control, whether proprietary or nonprofit including, but not limited to, nursing homes owned or administered by the State or a political subdivision of the State. The term does not include habilitation centers for the mentally retarded or persons with related conditions.

(8) "Nursing home administrator" means a person who has attained the requisite education and experience, is otherwise qualified, and has been issued a license by the board and is eligible to administer, manage, supervise, or be in administrative charge of a nursing home.

(9) "Qualified mental retardation professional" means a person who, by training and experience, meets the requirements of applicable federal law and regulations for a qualified mental retardation professional, as determined by the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs.

(10) "Sponsor" means a person who is financially or legally responsible for an individual currently residing in a nursing home or residential care facility.

SECTION 40-35-30. Supervision of facilities and centers by licensed administrators.

(A) No nursing home or community residential care facility within the State may operate except under the supervision of an administrator licensed in accordance with this chapter.

(B) A habilitation center for the mentally retarded or persons with related conditions, funded in whole or in part by the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, must be under the supervision of a licensed nursing home administrator or a qualified mental retardation professional who has been determined by the department to have the requisite training and experience.

SECTION 40-35-50. Fees.

The board may assess and collect these fees for:

(1) Nursing Home Administrators:

(a) application for licensure $200

(b) application for reexamination $135

(c) national and South Carolina examinations $250

(d) national examination $175

(e) South Carolina examination only $100

(f) provisional license $500

(g) initial licensure period $175

(h) active status renewal $175

(i) inactive status renewal $135

(2) Community Residential Care Facility Administrators:

(a) application for licensure $100

(b) application for examination $100

(c) application for reexamination $ 65

(d) provisional license $250

(e) initial licensure period $150

(f) active status renewal $150

(g) inactive status renewal $115

(3) Both Classes of Administrators:

(a) reinstatement of a lapsed license - 1st and 2nd month/per $ 50

month

(b) reinstatement of a lapsed license - 3rd through 12th $ 25

month/per month

(c) transfer of information for reciprocity to another state $ 50

(d) record change $ 25

(e) record change and reissue of certificate $ 50

(f) copy of licensee lists $ 20

(g) labels for licensee list $100

(h) copy of regulations $ 5

(i) application for approval of continuing education:

(i) by a sponsoring organization $100

(ii) for a repeat presentation $ 25

(iii) by an individual $ 15

(j) dual inactive status $250

(k) state and federal fingerprint reviews $ 38

SECTION 40-35-60. Rules and regulations.

The board may adopt rules governing its proceedings and may promulgate regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

SECTION 40-35-70. Additional powers and duties of board.

In addition to the powers and duties provided for in this chapter, the board has those powers and duties set forth in Section 40-1-70.

The board may evaluate complaint and investigative information received from the Department of Health and Environmental Control, the long term care ombudsman, the Department of Social Services, the peer review of the South Carolina Health Care Association, or any other source for the purpose of:

(1) assessing the qualifications for relicensure of nursing home administrators and community residential care facility administrators;

(2) taking disciplinary action;

(3) revising the standards imposed for licensure.

SECTION 40-35-90. Time and place for hearings; subpoenas.

The board or the appointed hearing officer shall set the time and place for a hearing on complaints or violations of this chapter and may issue subpoenas, administer oaths, and take testimony.

In addition to other remedies provided for in this chapter or Article 1, Chapter 1, the board in accordance with Section 40-1-100 also may issue a cease and desist order or may petition an administrative law judge for a temporary restraining order or other equitable relief to enjoin a violation of this chapter.

SECTION 40-35-110. Misconduct.

Misconduct, which constitutes grounds for revocation, suspension, or other restriction of a license or a limitation or other discipline of a licensee, is a satisfactory showing to the board of:

(1) acting in a manner inconsistent with the health or safety of the residents of the nursing home or community residential care facility;

(2) failing to ensure that the nursing home or community residential care facility in which the licensee is an administrator complies with the provisions of law and regulations of the licensing or supervising authority or agency, whether federal, state, or local, having jurisdiction over the operation and licensing of the nursing home or community residential care facility;

(3) permitting unauthorized disclosure of information relating to a resident in a nursing home or community residential care facility under the licensee's administration.

SECTION 40-35-115. Jurisdiction.

The board has jurisdiction over the actions of licensees and former licensees as provided for in Section 40-1-115.

SECTION 40-35-120. Disciplinary action.

In addition to the sanctions the board may impose against a person pursuant to this chapter, the board may take disciplinary action against a person as provided for in Section 40-1-120.

SECTION 40-35-130. Denial of licensure.

As provided for in Section 40-1-130, the board may deny licensure to an applicant based on the same grounds for which the board may take disciplinary action against a licensee.

SECTION 40-35-140. Denial of licensure due to poor criminal record.

A license may be denied based on a person's prior criminal record only as provided for in Section 40-1-140.

SECTION 40-35-150. Voluntary surrender of license.

A licensee under investigation for a violation of this chapter or a regulation promulgated under this chapter may voluntarily surrender the license in accordance with Section 40-1-150.

SECTION 40-35-160. Review.

A person aggrieved by a final action of the board may seek review of the decision in accordance with Section 40-1-160.

SECTION 40-35-170. Payment of investigation and prosecution costs.

A person found in violation of this chapter or a regulation promulgated under this chapter may be required to pay costs associated with the investigation and prosecution of the case in accordance with Section 40-1-170.

SECTION 40-35-180. Payment of costs and fines.

All costs and fines imposed pursuant to this chapter must be paid in accordance with and are subject to the collection and enforcement provisions of Section 40-1-180.

SECTION 40-35-190. Confidentiality of investigations and proceedings.

Investigations and proceedings conducted under this chapter are confidential, and all communications are privileged as provided for in Section 40-1-190.

SECTION 40-35-200. Licensure requirement; penalties for violations.

(A) It is unlawful for a person to administer, manage, or supervise, or be in administrative charge of a nursing home, community residential care facility, or habilitation center for the mentally retarded or persons with related conditions unless the person is licensed in accordance with this chapter.

(B) It is unlawful for a person to act or serve in the capacity of a nursing home administrator or residential care facility administrator unless the person is licensed in accordance with this chapter.

(C) A person who violates subsection (A) or (B) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year.

SECTION 40-35-210. Injunctive relief.

The department, on behalf of the board and in accordance with Section 40-1-120, may petition an administrative law judge, in the name of the State, for injunctive relief against a person violating this chapter.

(A) The board shall issue a nursing home administrator license to a person who submits sound evidence satisfactory to the board that the person:

(1) is at least twenty-one years of age;

(2) is of reputable and responsible character;

(3) is of sound physical and mental health;

(4)(a) has a baccalaureate degree in nursing home administration or related health care administration from an accredited college or university and one year of practical experience in nursing home administration or related health care administration;

(b) has a baccalaureate degree other than in health care administration from an accredited college or university and two years of practical experience in nursing home administration or related health care administration; or

(c) has a combination of education and experience as established by the board in regulation;

(5) has successfully completed the nursing home administrators examination administered by the board; and

(6) has paid the applicable fees which are nonrefundable.

(B) The board shall issue a community residential care facility license to a person who submits sound evidence satisfactory to the board that the person:

(1) is at least twenty-one years of age;

(2) is of reputable and responsible character;

(3) is of sound physical and mental health;

(4) has a high school diploma or the equivalent and at least two years of on-site work experience with supervisory and direct resident care responsibilities under the supervision of a licensed community residential care facility administrator before July 1, 2000;

(5) beginning July 1, 2000, if an initial applicant, has:

(a) a minimum of an associate degree with at least one year of on-site work experience with supervisory and direct resident care responsibilities under the supervision of a licensed community residential care facility administrator; however, a person who has a health-related associate degree or higher is required to have only six months of on-site work experience with supervisory and direct resident care responsibilities under the supervision of a licensed community residential care facility administrator; or

(b) had at least three months of on-site work experience under the supervision of a licensed community residential care facility administrator and has a:

(i) health-related baccalaureate degree and at least two years' work experience, as defined by the board, in a health-related field other than in a community residential care facility; or

(ii) nonhealth related baccalaureate degree with at least three years' work experience, as defined by the board, in a health-related field other than in a community residential care facility; or

(c) has a combination of education and experience as established by the board in regulation.

(6) has successfully completed the community residential care facility administrators' examination administered by the board and has paid the established fees.

(C) The board may establish qualifications in regulation for the issuance of a combined nursing home administrator and community residential care administrator license.

(D) An applicant for a nursing home administrator or community residential care facility administrator license shall undergo a state fingerprint review to be conducted by the State Law Enforcement Division to determine state criminal history and a federal fingerprint review to be conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine other criminal history. In addition to the fingerprint fee, the results of the reviews must be furnished to the board by the applicant before initial licensure.

(A) A nursing home administrator's or community residential care facility administrator's license is not transferable.

(B) A license must be issued according to procedures established by the board in regulation.

(C) A license must be renewed upon dates established by the board. A licensee must submit an application for renewal, payment of the renewal fee, and proof of requisite continuing education established by the board in regulation. If a license is not renewed in accordance with this subsection, the license lapses on the expiration date.

(D) A nursing home administrator or community residential care facility administrator previously licensed in this State whose license has lapsed for failure to renew on or before the expiration date of the license may seek reinstatement of the license within one year of the expiration date by submitting an application with the renewal fee, payment of a penalty as provided in the fee schedule, and proof of requisite continuing education.

(E) If a license has lapsed for more than one year, the individual shall satisfy the requirements of Section 40-35-230 to become relicensed.

(F) The board must be satisfied that an applicant remains qualified for licensure before renewal of a current license or reinstatement of a lapsed license.

(G) The board may issue a nursing home administrator's license or community residential care facility administrator's license to any person who holds a current license as a nursing home administrator or community residential care facility administrator from another jurisdiction if it finds that the standards for licensure in the other jurisdiction are at least the substantial equivalent of those in this State and if the applicant has passed the South Carolina portion of the licensure examination and is otherwise qualified.

SECTION 40-35-250. Severability.

If a provision of this chapter or the application of a provision to a person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are severable.